The Fighting Dragons of Ara: A Spectacle in HSS

Prepare to be mesmerized by one of the southern hemisphere's most iconic celestial targets: the "Fighting Dragons" nebula, located in the constellation Ara. This stunning capture showcases the nebula's intricate structures and vibrant colors, brought to life through meticulous astrophotography.

The Fighting Dragons of Ara

A Target That Captivates

The "Fighting Dragons" is a favorite among astrophotographers for its unique appearance and the challenge it presents. As one commenter aptly put it, "the Fighting Dragons is definitely one of the coolest." The allure of this target is undeniable, and seeing the initial Ha frames often elicits a sense of giddy excitement.

Capturing the Cosmic Dance: Equipment and Acquisition

This incredible image was made possible by a dedicated setup of advanced equipment and careful acquisition protocols:

Equipment:

Camera: ZWO ASI2600MM Pro
Telescope: William Optics Zenithstar 73
Mount: Juwei-14
Guide Scope: William Optics UniGuide 50mm
Guide Camera: ZWO ASI120MM Mini
Filter: Antlia 2.5nm Ultra Narrowband 2" SHO Set
Flattener: William Optics FLAT73R 0.8x Reducer
Controller: ZWO ASIAIR Mini
Autofocuser: ZWO EAF
Filter Wheel: ZWO 5x2" EFW

Acquisition Details:

Location: Bortle 9 (highly light-polluted)
Gain: 100
SII: 60 x 300" (5 hours)
Ha: 24 x 300" (2 hours)
OIII: 17 x 300" (1 hour 25 minutes - used for stars)
Darks: 50
Biases: 50
Flats: 20
Total Integration Time: 8 hours 25 minutes

Despite the significant light pollution of a Bortle 9 location, the use of ultra-narrowband filters allowed for the isolation of specific emission lines, bringing out the nebula's true colors.

From Data to Masterpiece: Processing

The journey from raw data to the final image is a complex but rewarding process:

Stacking: Performed using Sirilic.
Deconvolution and Denoising: Carried out with GraXpert.
Stretching: Achieved in Siril.
Natural Stars: The "NB-RGB" script in Siril was employed to integrate "natural" stars with the narrowband data.
Final Touches: Cropping and camera raw filter adjustments were made in Photoshop.

The choice of processing techniques, particularly the use of the NB-RGB script, contributes to the image's appeal, especially the "colour palette" which has been praised as "one of the best." The HSS color palette, in particular, makes this target "really pop."

A Favorite Amongst Favorites

Many find the "Fighting Dragons" to be a prime target for the HSS color palette and, overall, a personal favorite nebula in the southern hemisphere. The dedication required to capture such images, especially with challenging weather conditions, is a testament to the passion of astrophotographers. As one enthusiast shared, they've been trying to image it for months, patiently waiting for clear skies to accumulate more exposure time.

For those interested in exploring the data and different versions of this capture, here are the Astrobin links:

This image is a beautiful reminder of the wonders that await us when we look up at the night sky.